The answer is zero”
這幾個單詞真是再熟悉不過
組合一塊看起來的意思好像也就那麼回事
“答案是零”
但想起中文裡那些和數字相關的成語
“不三不四”、“五花八門”...的意思
這麼簡單直白的翻譯好像不對勁
The answer is zero
當老外對你說：The answer is zero.
想表達的意思是事情“白忙一場、毫無結果”
例：
No matter what you have done, the answer is zero.
無論你做了什麼，都是白忙一場。
A: How is the programme?
計劃怎麼樣了？
B: The answer is zero.
白忙活了。
answer back
answer （sb.） back =頂嘴，回嘴
不是很禮貌的方式應對長輩，領導的批評
例：
Stop answering your mother back!
不準和你媽媽頂嘴！
I'd generally talk my father round, but never answer back.
我會委婉地和父親解釋，從來不頂嘴。
talk sb. round=委婉的表達；說服
answer the door
answer the door
意思是應聲開門、聽到鈴聲去開門
例：
I'm on the phone. Could you answer the door for me?
我正在打電話，你能幫我開一下門嗎？
answer the call of nature
answer the call of nature=上廁所
例：
Just a moment. I have to go to answer the call of nature.
稍等一會，我想上廁所。
answer for / to
answer for=對…負責
例：
Do you really think the company will be made to answer for the problems that their pollution causes among the local people?
你真的認為公司會負責他們在當地造成的汙染問題？
answer to=答覆
例：
That is an indirect answer to the question.
那只是對這一問題的間接答覆。
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